Political Interventions to 'Ripen' Peace Initiatives: An Analysis of the Northern Ireland and Israeli/Palestinian Conflicts.

As President of the United States, Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel served to heighten tensions in the Middle East and instantly undermined his stated goal of bringing peace to the troubled region. This paper will argue that there are important lessons to be gained from the political process in Northern Ireland to help bolster a peace process in the Middle East. Through an analysis of Unionist politics pre- and post- the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the paper will argue that there is a need to not only encourage militants to make peace, but also to incentivise regional hegemons into meaningful negotiations. The paper will highlight the important role played by international hegemonic powers as they seek to create a Strategically Benefical Moment for all sides in the conflict as they seek to 'ripen' the conditions for peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]